How Great is our God!

1. How Great is our God!

2. Why did you steal my gods? God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1 ESV) What good is a god who can’t take care of himself?

3. Why did you steal my gods? Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre? And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly. It is in my power to do you harm. But the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father's house, but why did you steal my gods?” (ESV) Genesis 31:27-30 What good is a god who can’t take care of himself?

4. Compared to the Almighty God: God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. … The Lord of Armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (CSB) Psalms 46:1, 11 What good is a god who can’t take care of himself?

5. Or even stand up by himself? Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. He remains faithful forever, (CSB) Psalms 146:5-6 What good is a god who can’t take care of himself?

6. Or even stand up by himself? When the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord defeat us today before the Philistines? Let’s bring the ark of the Lord’s covenant from Shiloh. Then it will go with us and save us from our enemies.” So the people sent men to Shiloh to bring back the ark of the covenant of the Lord of Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. (CSB) 1 Samuel 4:3-4 What good is a god who can’t take care of himself?

7. Or even stand up by himself? When the Philistines discovered that the ark of the Lord had entered the camp, they panicked. “A god has entered their camp! ” they said. “Woe to us, nothing like this has happened before. … So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. The slaughter was severe ​— ​thirty thousand of the Israelite foot soldiers fell. The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. (CSB) 1 Samuel 4:6-11 What good is a god who can’t take care of himself?

8. Or even stand up by himself? After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod, brought it into the temple of Dagon and placed it next to his statue. When the people of Ashdod got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and returned him to his place. (CSB) 1 Samuel 5:1-3 What good is a god who can’t take care of himself?

10. Or even stand up by himself? But when they got up early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen with his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. This time, Dagon’s head and both of his hands were broken off and lying on the threshold. Only Dagon’s torso remained. That is why, still today, the priests of Dagon and everyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod do not step on Dagon’s threshold. (CSB) 1 Samuel 5:4-5 What good is a god who can’t take care of himself?

11. Or even stand up by himself? On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice I will punish the officials, the king’s sons, and all who are dressed in foreign clothing. On that day I will punish all who skip over the threshold, who fill their master’s house with violence and deceit. (CSB) Zephaniah 1:8-9 What good is a god who can’t take care of himself?

12. Compared to the Almighty God: See now that I alone am he; there is no God but me. I bring death and I give life; I wound and I heal. No one can rescue anyone from my power. (CSB) Deuteronomy 32:39 What good is a god who can’t take care of himself?

13. Or keep from being knocked down and chopped up? So Gideon took ten of his male servants and did as the Lord had told him. But because he was too afraid of his father’s family and the men of the city to do it in the daytime, he did it at night. When the men of the city got up in the morning, they found Baal’s altar torn down, the Asherah pole beside it cut down, and the second bull offered up on the altar that had been built. (CSB) Judges 6:27-28 What good is a god who can’t take care of himself?

14. Or keep from being knocked down and chopped up? “Would you plead Baal’s case for him? Would you save him? Whoever pleads his case will be put to death by morning! If he is a god, let him plead his own case because someone tore down his altar.” (CSB) Judges 6:31 What good is a god who can’t take care of himself?

15. Compared to the Almighty God: “he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (ESV) 1 Timothy 6:15-16 What good is a god who can’t take care of himself?

16. Compared to the Almighty God: “Who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?” Malachi 3:2 What good is a god who can’t take care of himself?

17. Notes so far: »The Lord of Armies is with us; -- wherever we are Psalms 46:11 » I alone am he; there is no God but me. – of any sort Deu 32:39 » Who can stand when he appears? – no one Malachi 3:2 What good is a god who can’t take care of himself?

18. The Almighty God: God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. Nor does he need anything that we can supply by working for him, since it is he himself who gives life and breath and everything else to everyone. (GNT) Acts 17:24-25 What good is a god who can be bribed?

20. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and she asked Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times? ” Balaam answered the donkey, “You made me look like a fool. If I had a sword in my hand, I’d kill you now! ” But the donkey said, “Am I not the donkey you’ve ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before? ” “No,” he replied. (CSB) Numbers 22:28-30 What good is a god who can be bribed?

21. The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you, because I consider what you are doing to be evil. … Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the path to confront me. And now, if it is evil in your sight, I will go back.” Then the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to say only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials. (CSB) Numbers 22:32-35 What good is a god who can be bribed?

22. Compared to the Almighty God: If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it is mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call on me in a day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor me.” (CSB) Psalms 50:12-15 What good is a god who can be bribed?

23. The Almighty God: The Lord watches over the righteous and listens to their cries; (GNT) Psalms 34:15 What good is a god who sleeps?

24. At noon Elijah started making fun of them: "Pray louder! He is a god! Maybe he is day-dreaming or relieving himself, or perhaps he's gone off on a trip! Or maybe he's sleeping, and you've got to wake him up!" So the prophets prayed louder and cut themselves with knives and daggers, according to their ritual, until blood flowed. They kept on ranting and raving until the middle of the afternoon; but no answer came, not a sound was heard. (GNT) 1 Kings 18:27-29 What good is a god who sleeps?

25. Compared to the Almighty God: When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. (ESV Strong's) Psalms 34:17-18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.   He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. (ESV Strong's) Psalms 145:18-19 What good is a god who sleeps?

26. Compared to the Almighty God: Perhaps Baal had to stop to think, but God: remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,  declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ​‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ (ESV Strong's) Isaiah 46:9-10 What good is a god who sleeps?

27. Compared to the Almighty God: Perhaps Baal had to travel to Mount Carmel, but God: Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. (ESV) Psalms 139:7-12 What good is a god who sleeps?

28. Compared to the Almighty God: Perhaps Baal needed a nap, but God: Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. (ESV) Psalms 121:4 What good is a god who sleeps?

29. This God Who made the world and everything in it,Who gives life and breath to everyone,Who shows no partiality, Who hears and answers prayer, Who knows the end from the beginning, Who never sleeps, Who is present everywhere, really does deserve our worship. Some notes:

30. ​ About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. (ESV) Acts 12:1-5 God Almighty can rescue from ANY prison!

31. Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. (ESV) Acts 12:6-7 God Almighty can rescue from ANY prison!

32. When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. (ESV) Acts 12:12-16 God Almighty can rescue from ANY prison!

33. “Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to deliver their lands out of my hand? Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers devoted to destruction was able to deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand?” (ESV) 2 Chronicles 32:13-14 God Almighty can rescue from ANY prison!

34. Some notes: People may not be able to open prison doors, but God can. Even the prison of helplessness and despair. We miss a blessing when we don’t recognize the answer to our prayers when they happen. When you think an angel is knocking at your door, answer it. God Almighty can rescue from ANY prison!

35. For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe. (CSB) Deuteronomy 10:17 If God is great, mighty, and awe-inspiring, and the ultimate sovereign Lord of lords, do you offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and seeking to please Him always? How Great is our God!

36. This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him. (CSB) 1 John 5:14-15 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. (ESV) Psalms 62:8 How Great is our God!

37. I lift my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep. (CSB) Psalms 121:1-4 If God is near to you, do you draw near to Him? How Great is our God!

38. God will bring this about in his own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen. (CSB) 1 Timothy 6:15-16 If God above and stronger than human government, do you pray for your government and your nation? How Great is our God!

39. But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God. He fell facedown at his feet, thanking him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Didn’t any return to give glory to God except this foreigner? ” (CSB) Luke 17:15-18 Do you thank God for His answers to your prayers? And do you testify to others about His answers to your prayers, for His glory and for their encouragement? How Great is our God!

40. Unimaginably Great! For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the resident alien, giving him food and clothing. (CSB) Deuteronomy 10:17-18 How Great is our God!

41. “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all his ways, to love him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul? (CSB) Deuteronomy 10:12 How Great is our God!